Meet Archie Harrison, the Golden Retriever Guide Dog Who Shares a Birthday With the Royal Baby
To celebrate the arrival of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's son, Archie Harrison, Guide Dogs has named a Golden Retriever puppy after the new royal baby.
Puppy Archie Harrison was born on the same day as Meghan and Harry's new arrival (Monday, May 6th), and is on a journey to become a life-changing guide dog.
After health checks, the Retriever puppy will be heading home with one of the Guide Dogs' volunteer puppy walkers, where he will live for around 12 months. During his time with his new owner, Archie will develop the smell, sight and sounds of the world around him before beginning his formal guide dog training.
"Archie Harrison is a strapping young puppy and growing fast. He appears inquisitive, confident and responsive–good signs for a future guide dog," Matthew Bottomley, Head of Breeding Operations at Guide Dogs, explains.
"Like royalty, puppy Archie Harrison’s life will be dedicated to public service, as he will grow up to support someone living with sight loss to lead as full a life as possible. We’re excited to see him grow up, start training and hopefully join a new generation of life-changers."
Puppy Archie's mother, Winnie, may have given birth on the same day as the Duchess of Sussex, but unlike Meghan, she isn't a new mother. This is Winnie's third puppy and she was nursed and cared for by Tricia Plenderleith, a devoted Guide Dogs volunteer, throughout her pregnancy.
Tricia also comments on the special joint birthday, saying: "It did feel incredibly special to celebrate a birth alongside the royal family. When both Winnie and the Duchess of Sussex's due dates were approaching, I did wonder whether it would happen!"
To discover more about the work of the Guide Dogs, head over to their website.
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